North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 102 The Throat-Slitting Operation (5,000 words)

Seeing that the cavalry camp had left Giant Elephant Mountain, Azu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Being stuck with such a dog-skin plaster is disgusting, even if it doesn't hurt you!

So they staged a play with the Blackfoot tribe, getting them to send some men to pretend to attack their camp.

After staging a fierce battle in the middle of the night, they disguised themselves and the Blackfoot tribe as corpses and deliberately carried them past the cavalry camp.

This was to clear himself of suspicion of colluding with the Blackfoot tribe.

At the same time, he also ordered the Blackfoot tribe to put away all their guns and ammunition, and use only primitive bows, arrows, stone axes and spears to drive away Captain Richie's reconnaissance team.

By doing so, at least the Blackfoot tribe did not expose themselves to Brigadier General George Phillips's guns.

But that's not enough. Brigadier General George hasn't found the target he wants. So what will he do next?
After pondering for a long time, Azu issued another order.

He secretly smuggled out all the old-fashioned firearms and ammunition that Huamei Industrial had stockpiled during the resupply and handed them over to the Blackfoot Tribe.

With thousands of guns of different models and countless rounds of ammunition, the Blackfoot Tribe simply couldn't possibly use that many.

Azu instructed the Blackfoot tribe to throw all the guns and ammunition to other Native American tribes overnight!
You heard right, they threw them to various Native American tribes at night!
Overnight, these guns and ammunition seemed to have sprung up from the ground, and no one could figure out where they came from!
For Azu, who already had an arms factory, these old-fashioned firearms were no longer of any use.

But for all the Native American tribes, these guns and ammunition were highly sought-after advanced weapons.

Most of the firearms and ammunition are the same as the main equipment currently used by the U.S. Army!

In other words, in just a few days, thousands of Native American warriors with equipment equivalent to that of the U.S. Army suddenly appeared on California soil!
Meanwhile, it was still on that dilapidated fishing boat.

Speaker Brosnan, disguised once again, met with the lieutenant colonel intelligence officer who had been waiting in the cabin for a long time.

"I'm sorry, Colonel, the situation is completely different from what we expected, and we have to risk meeting with you again."

The lieutenant colonel lowered his voice and said, "Through these days of reconnaissance, we have searched all the Indian tribes and have not found that Indian group with powerful firepower!"

"What? How is this possible!" Interim Governor Brosnan exclaimed in astonishment. "You really conducted reconnaissance with firepower over all the Native American tribes?"

"Of course! Except for a few tribes with very small populations, we have conducted fire reconnaissance on all the tribes! Apart from a few scattered firearms, we have not found any powerful firepower, let alone those powerful grenades."

Upon hearing the news, interim governor Brosnan was surprised and fell into a long silence.

The lieutenant colonel continued, "Based on our speculation, that heavily armed Native American tribe has most likely already left California. Or perhaps they crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains and entered the Sierra Nevada desert."

"Either they went south into Mexico, or they went north into Oregon!"

"Anyway, we haven't found any trace of them on California soil."

Brosnan nodded: "That's a possibility! After attacking the Ranger camp, they knew they had caused a huge disaster, so it's entirely possible that the entire clan moved to the surrounding areas."

Brosnan then added, "But there's another possibility!"

The lieutenant colonel quickly pressed, "What possibility?"

Brosnan replied, "That's because they hid all their guns and ammunition, and only used primitive bows, arrows, and spears to fight back, making it impossible for us to determine which tribe attacked the Rangers' camp, or who colluded with that damned Chinese!"

Upon hearing this, the lieutenant colonel was immediately taken aback: "Those damned Native Americans, could they really be that smart?"

Brosnan shook his head and said, "The Indians may not be that smart, but that Chinaman is smarter and more cunning than you think!"

"Our reconnaissance missions across the country—perhaps that damned Chinese guy has already guessed the purpose of our actions!"

"Therefore, he would have the Native American tribes he colluded with hide all their guns and ammunition, making it impossible for us to detect them!"

The lieutenant colonel swallowed hard, still somewhat incredulous: "Could he be that cunning? He figured out our purpose just from our movements? It's almost unbelievable, and...!"

"Furthermore, our intelligence department has also discovered Huamei Industrial Company's intelligence base in Monterey."

"An intelligence outpost?" Brosnan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Yes! A luxury hotel, where there is a very popular dancer in California named Adele. According to our investigation, Adele is very likely a spy for Huamei Industrial Company!"

Brosnan nodded and said, "I've met Adele. She's a rare beauty, and no man can resist her charm! Using someone like that as a spy is a wise move! Moreover, using hotels as intelligence outposts is also a common practice of that Chinese guy."

The lieutenant colonel continued, "So, I personally pretended to be completely infatuated with Adele and revealed some false information to her while drunk."

"What false information?"

“I told Adele that our targets for this operation are the Pomeranians and Wintons, to mislead them with false information and lower their guard!”

Brosnan replied, "Using false information to mislead the enemy is a good move. Let's see if that Chinese guy falls for it! If possible, the lieutenant colonel can also give Adele more information."

"Yes, Colonel!"

"So what should we do next?" the lieutenant colonel pressed. "Your suggestion to conduct fire reconnaissance against the Indians hasn't worked. The general urgently wants to know the next operational plan!"

Brosnan didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "What does the general himself intend to do next?"

The lieutenant colonel replied in a deep voice, "According to the general's instructions, we should go all the way and take this opportunity to completely wipe out all the major Native American tribes, so that from now on, no Native American in California will dare to resist us!"

"Heh!" Brosnan sneered. "Still that hot-tempered old man. Has he forgotten why he came here?"

"The general has come... for revenge!"

“That’s right! It’s revenge!” Brosnan continued, “Can he really avenge his son-in-law by aimlessly killing all the Native Americans?”

"So, what does the colonel mean by 'what should we do?' We can't just do nothing!"

The lieutenant colonel said, "But I think the general's idea is also good. If that Indian tribe has hidden all their guns and ammunition, our indiscriminate killing will definitely force them to use their firepower."

“Yes, you’re right, that’s one way!” Brosnan pondered. “Didn’t the intelligence you gave me a few days ago say that a mining camp of the Huamei Corporation was discovered deep in the Sierra Nevada Mountains?”

"Yes! That mining camp was also attacked by the Blackfoot tribe at night, resulting in heavy casualties."

Brosnan said in a deep voice, "Hmm! The fact that the Blackfoot Clan could launch a sneak attack and suffer heavy casualties shows that the mining camp's military strength is not particularly strong."

"Moreover, that damn Chinese guy hasn't shown up in San Francisco for over a month."

"Colonel, you mean...?"

Brosnan said fiercely, "If that damn Chinese guy isn't in San Francisco, then where could he be?"

"Mining camp?"

"Probably!"

Brosnan continued, "If that Chinese guy is really in the mining camp, then...!"

As he spoke, Brosnan made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Kill that Chinese guy?" The lieutenant colonel's eyes suddenly lit up.

Brosnan's voice was somber: "That's right! In San Francisco, it's difficult for us to take action against him. But in the desolate Sierra Nevada Mountains, at a mere mining camp, we have two thousand regular troops and a thousand militiamen. Surely we can take him down?"

"As long as we get rid of that damned Chinese guy, Huamei Company will be leaderless and nothing to fear!"

Upon hearing this, the lieutenant colonel's eyes lit up completely: "Colonel, the general has always said that you lack courage, but in fact, I think your courage and decisiveness are second to none!"

The lieutenant colonel exclaimed excitedly, "I'll be right back. I suggest the general concentrate all forces to wipe out the Huamei Company's mining camp in one fell swoop and take down that Chinese guy!"

“No…!” Brosnan stopped him, “A mere gold mining camp doesn’t need to concentrate all its forces; a thousand men are enough. Moreover, we must maintain our current firepower reconnaissance and harassment of the various Indian tribes.”

"Why?" the lieutenant colonel asked, puzzled. "Once too many troops are mobilized and the harassment of the various Indian tribes is stopped, that Chinese guy's intelligence network will immediately detect that something is wrong."

Brosnan said ruthlessly, "Keep everything as it is as possible. The troops responsible for attacking the mining camp should also be dispersed into many small groups and gradually approach the target. We can't let that Chinese guy notice anything amiss!"

"I understand! I believe the general will agree to your plan!"
-
After receiving the excellent plan, the lieutenant colonel intelligence officer rushed back to the Monterey headquarters.

As expected, the general agreed to the battle plan without hesitation!

As a result, the harassment and reconnaissance against all the Native American tribes, which had just begun to subside, resumed!
The 3,000-strong force was divided into dozens of groups, which harassed and attacked various Native American tribes.

However, this time, they suddenly discovered that the various Native American tribes that were attacked again had suddenly become different!

The primitive tribesmen who originally carried bows, arrows, spears and stone axes suddenly switched to powerful modern firearms!
Even the docile Pomeranians and Wintons have suddenly found themselves with a lot more guns and ammunition!

The regular army, which was originally relaxed and only launching a probing attack, was caught off guard and suffered heavy casualties!
Captain Richie, who was in charge of attacking the Blackfoot tribe, a tribe with considerable fighting power, suffered a great loss!
"Bang bang bang...!"

“Woooooooooooooo…!”

Hundreds of Indian cavalrymen, brandishing their rifles and cannons and roaring with deafening cries, were hot on Captain Richie and his cavalry.

"Bang bang bang...!"

Amidst a barrage of gunfire, men around Captain Richie were shot and fell from their horses.

Anyone who fell from their horse was instantly trampled into a bloody pulp by countless chaotic hooves!
"Captain, where did these damned Indians suddenly get such powerful firepower?"

The militia company commander next to the captain, his upper body pressed tightly against the horse's neck, asked in surprise.

"Fuck! How should I know! These Native Americans are fucking insane!"

The militia company commander glanced back at the overwhelming Indian cavalry: "These guys are trying to wipe us out!"

"Captain, you need to think of something quickly! If they keep chasing us like this, we're all going to die!"

Captain Richie glanced at the dwindling number of cavalry on either side and roared, "Follow me! Run towards the Huamei Company's mining camp!"

"If we get there, we'll be saved!"

Captain Richie thought that if they could escape to the Huamei Company's mining camp and slow down their pursuers, they would have a chance to break free.

Moreover, this place is not far from the mining camp, and the majestic Elephant Mountain can already be seen in the distance!
"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Once we reach the mining camp, we'll be rescued!"

With Captain Richie's shout, all the cavalrymen turned toward the gold rush camp.

After a chase that lasted for half a day, just when everyone's mounts were exhausted and collapsing to the ground foaming at the mouth, they finally saw the wooden wall surrounding the mining camp!

"Brothers at Huamei Company, Hellp, Hellp Me!!!"

"We are being hunted by the Blackfoot Clan, please help us stop them!"

No sooner had Captain Richie finished speaking than a barrage of gunfire erupted from the wall and watchtowers.

"Bang bang bang...!"

The hail of bullets proved remarkably effective, deterring the surging tide of Indian pursuers behind them.

"Hiss...!"

Hundreds of Native American riders reined in their horses almost simultaneously.

"Bang bang bang...!"

After another round of intense gunfire, countless Indian riders had no choice but to abandon their pursuit of Captain Richie, turn their horses around, and ride away dejectedly.

The Indian riders came like a tide, and left just as quickly, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Azu's face appeared on the watchtower: "Hey, isn't this Captain Richie? How come you're being chased by Indians? You're a regular army unit, the most elite independent cavalry battalion, how come you can't even beat Indians?"

Ignoring Azu's sarcastic remarks, Captain Richie turned to look at the remaining thirty or so riders around him.

Seeing his force of over a hundred men reduced to such a small number after being chased all the way down, Captain Richie couldn't help but feel a deep sadness.

However, some polite words still had to be said: "Thank you for the help of the Huamei Company, which allowed us to get rid of the Indians. I will report everything that happened today truthfully, and I believe you will be grateful to the United States Army!"

After saying this polite remark, Captain Richie was too ashamed to stay any longer. He led the remaining thirty or so men, turned his horse around, and rode away, looking disheveled.

Youma and Blood Eagle only appeared beside Azu after they had completely disappeared.

"Boss, why did you save them?" Youma couldn't help but ask.

Azu smiled slightly: "They are only about thirty cavalrymen, nothing to fear. Killing them will not make any difference."

"On the contrary, rescuing them might have unexpected positive effects!"

As Azu had expected, Captain Richie reported the battle situation truthfully as soon as he escaped the pursuit.

When this battle report was placed on Brigadier General George Phillips's desk, dozens of other battle reports also appeared.

Brigadier General George Phillips is even more hot-tempered today!

"In the last round of reconnaissance, not a single Native American tribe possessed significant firepower!"

"In this round of reconnaissance, so many tribes simultaneously unleashed such powerful firepower, resulting in heavy casualties for my troops!"

Enraged Brigadier General George Phillips roared, "Who the hell can tell me what's going on here?"

As he spoke, Brigadier General George Phillips waved a battle report in his hand: "The 1st Company of the 6th Independent Cavalry Battalion, along with their militia company, were pursued and almost completely wiped out by the Blackfoot!"

"If it weren't for the timely assistance from Huamei Company's mining camp, they wouldn't even have had the chance to send out this battle report!"

"The 3rd Company of the 7th Independent Cavalry Battalion was surrounded and annihilated by those damned Indians. In the end, only seven men escaped!"

"The 7th Company of the 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, was pursued and killed by Native Americans, suffering over 70% casualties!"

……

With each battle report Brigadier General George Phillips read, his anger flared even more, and his roars nearly blew the roof off the command post!

All the staff officers in the command post were trembling with fear and dared not utter a word!
They had no idea what was going on, so how could they dare to chime in?
"Can anyone tell me, where the hell do these damn Indians get their guns and ammunition?"

Faced with Brigadier General George Phillips's roar, the lieutenant colonel intelligence officer had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply, "General, I think that in all of California, the only company capable of producing such a large quantity of firearms and ammunition is Huamei Industrial Company...!"

"What a load of bull! Huamei Industrial Company...!"

Brigadier General George Phillips slammed Captain Richie's battle report into his face.

"Take a look for yourself. It was Huamei Company's mining camp that saved the lives of the 1st Company of the 6th Independent Cavalry Battalion at a critical moment!"

"If it was the Huamei Company that was behind this, would they have intercepted the pursuing Native Americans? Would they have rescued our troops?"

The lieutenant colonel intelligence officer was also dumbfounded. The current situation was too complicated and too bizarre. Even if he racked his brains, he couldn't figure out how all this had happened!
Once the general's anger had subsided somewhat, the lieutenant colonel intelligence officer tentatively asked, "General, should we continue with our plan?"

After his angry roar, Brigadier General George Phillips finally sat back down in his seat, barely suppressing his anger, and said, "Although the Huamei Company saved my cavalry company's lives, this only proves that they did not collude with the Blackfoot Clan."

"That doesn't change the fact that Major Daniel Cameron and the Northern California Rangers were most likely killed by that damned Chinese!"

"So, the plan continues! We must take the mining camp and kill that damned Chinese man, no matter what!"

(End of this chapter)